415 Squadron, RCAF Crews – Wellington Era – 1943/1944

[Temujin]

415 Squadron, RCAF Crews – Wellington Era – 1943/1944

On 23 September 1943, 415 Squadron began conversion training on MK XIII Vickers Wellingtons at Thorney Island and the Fairey Albacore at RAF Manston. The Wellingtons had been retired from Bomber Command and were now used by Coastal Command for Channel reconnaissance duties (anti-E/Boat) in preparation for “D” Day. The Wellington Flight became “B” Flight and the Albacore Flight “A” Flight. The Albacores were used to strike targets identified by Wellington Crews. Following a work up period, the first operational mission was flown on 3 November 1943. Shortly thereafter, the Wellington operation was moved to RAF Bircham Newton, with its servicing echelon placed at RAF Docking. The dispersal of the Squadron caused many administrative and logistic problems. Wellington and Albacore operations would continue until July 1944, when the Squadron was assigned to Bomber Command.

The primary references used to develop the list of 415 Squadron Wellington Crews were the Squadron’s Operational Record Books.

ACER (KIA 07 February 1944)

Pilot F/Lt J.F. Acer

Pilot WO J.L. Dissing

Navigator WO C.S. McCarvil

WOP/AIR WO N.C. West

WOP/AIR WO J.E. Russell

WOP/AIR WO C.E. Simpson

WOP/AIR WO E. Dorval



ANDERSON

Pilot F/O G.S.L. Anderson

Pilot P/O J.C. Savage (replaced)

Pilot F/Sgt E.O. England (NZ )

Navigator F/O W.E. Rolls

WOP/AIR F/O W.K. Sims

WOP/AIR F/O A.L. Turner

WOP/AIR WO S.H.F. MacDonald

WOP/AIR F/O R.B. Numberson



ASHFIELD

Pilot F/O K.T. Ashfield DFC (RAF)

Pilot F/Sgt D.J. Blakely (RNZAF)

Navigator P/O G.N. Brown DFC (RAF)

WOP/AIR WO B.W. Forbes

WOP/AIR WO J.S. Buchanan

WOP/AIR WO A.H. Wright

WOP/AIR WO M.R.H. Schneider



BROTHERHOOD

Pilot F/O D.M. Brotherhood

Pilot F/O J.P.E. Legare

Navigator WO R.J. Hardican

WOP/AIR F/O J. Goodfellow

WOP/AIR F/Sgt R.A. Stamm

WOP/AIR WO C.J. McRae

WOP/AIR WO J.S. Young



CLASPER

Pilot P/O H.R. Clasper (RAF)

Pilot F/Sgt H.P. Flynn

Navigator P/O D.J. Cartridge (RAF)

WOP/AIR WO A.D. Donald

WOP/AIR WO M.L. Parker

WOP/AIR WO E.R. Saunders

WOP/AIR F/Sgt F.E. Dorken



ENNS

Pilot F/O J.A. Enns

Pilot WO E.A. Nelson

Navigator F/O W.C. De Pelham

WOP/AIR WO R.E. Morrison

WOP/AIR WO H. Calvert

WOP/AIR WO R.J.H. Ross

WOP/AIR WO J.B.M. McMillan



EWING

Pilot Lt D.R. Ewing (US)

Pilot F/O J.M. Clift

Navigator F/O E.G. Cliff

WOP/AIR FO D.D. Stemp

WOP/AIR WO M.R. Jones

WOP/AIR WO M.E. Smith

WOP/AIR WO E. Steele



FOLSON

Pilot F/O C. Folson

Pilot F/O T.C. Dobie (RAF)

Navigator P/O P. Clarkson

WOP/AIR WO K.A. Roche

WOP/AIR WO G.A. Slater

WOP/AIR WO A.S. Richards

WOP/AIR WO R. McCloy



FOORD

Pilot P/O A.V. Foord

Pilot WO N.K. Preston

Navigator F/O W.R. Waldie

WOP/AIR WO G.F. Ward

WOP/AIR WO D.W. Stuart

WOP/AIR WO W.E. Dennis

WOP/AIR WO M.F. Atton



GIBSON (KIA 08 February 1944)

Pilot S/Ldr M.W. Gibson

Pilot Lt O.A. Lamb (US)

Navigator WO A.R. Armitage

WOP/AIR F/Sgt R. MacGillivary

WOP/AIR F/O E. Hanson

WOP/AIR WO J.L.A. Champoux

WOP/AIR F/Sgt R. Urban



GORDON

Pilot S/Ldr R.A. Gordon

Pilot F/Sgt A.K. Douglass

Navigator F/O P.A. Brockwell

WOP/AIR WO A.B. Brohan

WOP/AIR WO G. Shapire

WOP/AIR WO T.A. Paaskowski

WOP/AIR WO A.D. Barnett



KEILLER

Pilot S/Ldr H.G. Keiller

Pilot F/O L. Coleman

Navigator F/Lt G.A. Potter

Navigator F/O C. Wondolowski (replaced)

WOP/AIR WO W.J. Nieradka

WOP/AIR F/Sgt D.M. Finlayson

WOP/AIR WO R.C. Hanson

WOP/AIR WO J.R.J.M. Falardeau



KRAHN

Pilot F/Sgt G.G. Krahn

Pilot F/O D.L.A. Laurie

Navigator F/Sgt J.R. Dryden

WOP/AIR W/O J.G. Thompson

WOP/AIR F/Sgt G.E. Robertson

WOP/AIR F/Sgt G.A. Hensen

WOP/AIR F/Sgt J.M. Lacombe



PARKER

Pilot F/O H.L. Parker

Pilot F/O R.A. Beattie

Pilot F/O R.A. Tretheway (replaced)

Navigator F/O A.R. Graham

WOP/AIR WO B.R. Nelson (replaced)

WOP/AIR Sgt C.J.L. Sutherland

WOP/AIR WO W.E.R. Baldry

WOP/AIR WO S.A.S. New

WOP/AIR WO F.W. Harris



PATERSON

Pilot F/O F.J. Paterson

Pilot F/O C.G. Waller (RAF)

Navigator F/O J.T. Rutherford

WOP/AIR WO W.J. Hurtick

WOP/AIR F/O H.J. Callin

WOP/AIR WO G.H. Madore

WOP/AIR WO M.G. Grant



RIDGWAY

Pilot F/O R.H. Ridgway

Pilot F/O M.S.C. Smith (RAF)

Navigator F/O J.R. Murray

WOP/AIR F/O M.W. Cole (replaced)

WOP/AIR WO G. Pratt

WOP/AIR WO R.F. Wells

WOP/AIR WO F.A. Steels

WOP/AIR WO M. Shechter



RUTTEN

Pilot W/Cdr C.G. Rutten DSC

Pilot various

Navigator F/Lt A.W. Hornbrook (RAF)

WOP/AIR F/O R.A. Swainston

WOP/AIR WO J.H.L. Donald

WOP/AIR WO W.E. Norquay

WOP/AIR WO V.W. Eldridge



SCHOFIELD

Pilot WO J.W. Schofield

Pilot F/Sgt R.F. Petts (RAF)

Navigator F/O H.G. MacDermid

WOP/AIR WO T.A. Paczkowski

WOP/AIR WO A.D. Bennett

WOP/AIR WO G. Shapiro

WOP/AIR WO A.B. Drohan



SHEEN (KIA 13 July 1944)

Pilot F/O R.J. Sheen

Pilot F/Sgt J. Hands (RAF)

Navigator F/Lt R.L. Harman

WOP/AIR WO L.L.E. Findlay

WOP/AIR WO E.G. Crawley

WOP/AIR WO G.K. Huish

WOP/AIR WO J.R. Vannier



SMITH

Pilot F/O G.L. Smith

Pilot WO A.K. Douglas

Navigator WO E.J. Rowe

WOP/AIR F/O O.W. Boville

WOP/AIR F/Lt J. Logan

WOP/AIR WO E.C. Roberts

WOP/AIR WO H. Walters



TAGUE

Pilot Lt M.F. Tague (US)

Pilot F/Sgt N.K. Preston

Navigator F/Sgt P. Clarkson

WOP/AIR WO K.A. Roche

WOP/AIR WO G.A. Slater

WOP/AIR F/Sgt A.S. Richards

WOP/AIR WO R. McCloy



WATT

Pilot P/O R.H. Watt DFC

Pilot Sgt D.W. Gaunt

Navigator F/O A.F. Boyd (RAF)

WOP/AIR F/Lt R.A. Gauthier

WOP/AIR WO J.M. Mihall

WOP/AIR WO J. Bileski

WOP/AIR WO A.T.J.S. Mahar


WATT

Pilot P/O R.H. Watt DFC

Pilot Sgt D.W. Gaunt

Navigator F/O A.F. Boyd (RAF)

WOP/AIR F/Lt R.A. Gauthier

WOP/AIR WO J.M. Mihall

WOP/AIR WO J. Bileski

WOP/AIR WO A.T.J.S. Mahar



WATTS

Pilot F/O C.R. Watts

Pilot F/O D.W. Aston (RAF)

Navigator P/O L.G. Griffiths

WOP/AIR F/O G.D. Nathan

WOP/AIR F/O H.E. Maguire

WOP/AIR WO L.J. Kelly

WOP/AIR WO N. Shlahotka


Source: http://www.415sqn.com/wellington-crews.html

[georgetanksherman]

Sheen

R.C.A.F. No. 415 Squadron, Vickers Wellington, MF494, July 13, 1944

Aircraft on Anti-shipping patrol did not return after operation. No signals or details are available from this aircraft. A Luftwaffe night-fighter claim for a Wellington off Ameland at 02.03 hours (German time), shot down into the sea from an altitude of 400m by Uffz. Wilsch of 7./NJG 1.

Crew:
Pilot, Fg Off, R.J. Sheen, RCAF, J/12823, M.I.A., Owendale, Alberta, Canada
Navigator, Flt Lt, R.L. Harman, RCAF, J/8438, M.I.A.,Toronto, Ontario, Canada
WAG, P/O, J.J.R. Vannier, RCAF J/89739, M.I.A., Sturgeon Falls, Ontario, Canada
P/O, G.E. Crawley, RCAF, J/90002, M.I.A., Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
P/O, L.E. Findley, RCAF, J/89738, M.I.A., Kelloe, Manitoba, Canada
P/O, G.K. Huish, RCAF, J/87891, M.I.A., New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
Flt Sgt, J. Hands, RAFVR, 1390983, M.I.A., Hythe, Kent, United Kingdom

[georgetanksherman]

Gibson

R.C.A.F. No. 415 Squadron, Vickers Wellington, HZ649, February 8, 1944

Aircraft on anti-shipping patrol, on return to base, spotted a dinghy notified Coltishall over V.H.F. that they were going to investigate. Later Coltishall received a message stating that both engines were cutting out, believed causing aircraft to ditch in the English Channel, aircraft and crew not found.

Crew:
Pilot: Squadron Leader M.W. Gibson, RCAF, C/2003, M.I.A. Picton, Ontario, Canada
Pilot: Lt. O.A. Lamb, U.S.A.A.F., 0886924, M.I.A. Pasadena, California, U.S.A.
Navigator: W/O 2 A.R. Armitage, RCAF, J85977, M.I.A. Toronto, Ontario, Canada
WAG, Flt. Sgt. R. Urban, RCAF, J/86062, M.I.A. St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A.
WAG, Flt. Sgt. R. MacGillivray, RCAF, J/86061, M.I.A. Melfort, Saskatchewan, Canada
WAG, F/O E. Hanson, RCAF, J/22610, M.I.A., Loco, B.C., Canada
WAG, WO 2 J.L.A. Champoux, RCAF, J/86268, M.I.A., Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada

All RCAF Crew members mention on Runnymede Memorial, Sussex, United Kingdom

Lt. O.A. Lamb mentioned on wall of the missing, American War Cemetery, Madingley, Cambridge, United Kingdom

[georgetanksherman]

ACER

R.C.A.F. No. 415 Squadron, Vickers Wellington, LZ655, February 7, 1944

Aircraft on anti-shipping patrol off Dutch coast failed to return from mission.

CREW:
Pilot, F/Lt J.F. Acer, RCAF, C/1748, M.I.A., Westmount, Province of Quebec, Canada
Pilot, WO J.L. Dissing, RCAF, J/85547, K.I.A., London, Ontario, Canada
Navigator, WO C.S. McCarvill, RCAF, J/85959, M.I.A., British Columbia, Canada
WOP/AIR, WO N.C.E. West (DFC), RCAF, J/85524, M.I.A., Pembroke, Ontario, Canada
WOP/AIR, WO J.E. Russell, RCAF, J/86060, M.I.A., Toronto, Ontario, Canada
WOP/AIR, WO C.E. Simpson, RCAF, J/19658, M.I.A., Toronto, Ontario, Canada
WOP/AIR, WO E.J. Dorval, RCAF, J/85481, M.I.A., Castor, Alberta, Canada